Applications open for shire grants and sponsorships

February 4, 2022 BY James Taylor

The Great Ocean Road Running Festival received a grant in the Tourism category last year.

THE Surf Coast Shire’s Event Grants and Sponsorship Program has opened for applications, and the shire is seeking to support events which foster positive community, economic, cultural and environmental outcomes.

Deputy mayor Liz Pattison encouraged not-for-profit and commercial organisations to consider applying for events to be held in the shire between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

Applications opened on Tuesday this week and will be open until February 28 in the following categories:

Community – up to $3,000
Boutique Creative and Special Focus – up to $7,500
Tourism, up to $10,000.

There were 20 successful applicants that received grants in last year’s program, including the Winter Solstice Open Water Swim in the Community category, the Meadow Music Festival in the Boutique Creative and Special Focus category, and the Great Ocean Road Running Festival in the Tourism category.

“The pandemic has certainly magnified how much our wonderful events mean to us in terms of community connections, wellbeing and economic stimulus across our shire,” Cr Pattison said.

“We look forward to their continued, careful return during 2022-23 and encourage organisations to consider applying to our Event Grants Program.

“Our grants across three categories might be able to provide groups with the really valuable boosts they need after challenging times of cancellation and separation.

“The Event Grants Program has been making a difference since 2014, and we hope to see it flourish again in 2022-23.”

Grants for 2022-23 will be announced following the council’s May meeting, which is scheduled for May 24.

Event sponsorships are considered on application, with the application process highly competitive.

People considering applying for an events grant should, as a first step, speak to a member of the council’s Events Grants Program team by phoning 5261 0600 during business hours to help identify which category might be most appropriate and to outline the application process.

For more information, including grant and sponsorship guidelines, head to the Surf Coast Events website.